Antenna for motor vehicles



Nov. 2, 1937. c. M. TICHENOR ANTENNA FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Sept. 21, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS m WM Nov. 2, 1937. c. M. TICHENOR 2,097,707

ANTENNA FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Sept. 21, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 11v VENTQR CARL M.T|CHENOR A TTORNEYS Patented Nov. 2, 1937 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE 13 Claims.

This invention relates generally to installations for radio receiving apparatus and refers more particularly to an improved antenna for use in connection with radio receiving sets of the type employed in motor vehicles.

It is a well established fact that the most eflicient form of radio frequency pick-up for a radio receiving set installed in motor vehicles is an antenna located remote from the ignition system at an optimum distance from the body and extending as far into the atmosphere above the top of the body as is practical. It has been proposed to accomplish the above results by providing an antenna in the form of a flexible steel rod secured to the motor vehicle in such a position that the highly flexible tip of the rod extends a substantial distance above the roof of the vehiclebody. Although this type of antenna appreciably increases the radio frequency "pickup" of the apparatus, nevertheless, it has been criticized by the trade on the grounds that the flexible tip detracts from the appearance of the vehicle. It is, therefore, one of the principal objects of the present invention to overcome this objection to a great extent by providing means for securing the flexible tip in a position wherein it extends longitudinally of the vehicle body above the roof of the latter. When the flexible portion of the antenna is in the secured position mentioned above, the same actually enhances rather than distracts from the general stream-line appearance of the body and, at the same time, provides for securing better than average radio reception.

Another advantageous feature of the present invention resides in the provision of securing means for the flexible tip of the antenna permitting the latter to be readily released when maximum radio frequency pick-up" is desirable or necessary.

Another object of this invention consists in the provision of an antenna of the character set forth, wherein the securing means for the tip actually increases the capacity of the antenna and, at the same time, enhances the appearance of the assembly.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of an antenna of the above character permitting the flexible tip to be detached from the antenna assembly without disturbing the position of the remaining portion of the antenna including the securing means provided for the flexible tip.

In addition to the foregoing, the present invention contemplates a novel arrangement of antenna for radio receiving apparatus wherein the latter is associated with the front header of the body The foregoing, as well as other objects, will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, 6 especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a motor vehicle equipped with an antenna constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through the motor vehicle illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 8-4 of Figure 2; 25

Figure '7 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through a motor vehicle illustrating a modified form of installation; and

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, is particularly applicable to motor vehicles wherein the radio receiving apparatus I0 is supported within the body beneath the usual cowling ll. Referring particularly to Figure 2 of the drawings, it will be noted that the antenna assembly i2 comprises the tubular section It and an extension I in the form of a solid .flexible rod. Upon reference to Figure 6, it will be noted that the rod I4 is provided with an enlargement I! at the lower end thereof adapted to telescope within the upper end of the tubular section It. The internal diameter of the upper end of the section II is slightly less than the outside diameter of the enlarged portion It, and a slot I6 is formed in the upper end of the section ii to permit the expansion necessary for engagement of the enlargement i! into the section IS.

The slot I6 is of suillcient length to receive the forward end of the latch plate 11 below the enlargement I! in the manner illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings, and may be permanently setuned to the section II by welding or soldering. 55

The latch plate I! extends a substantial distance rearwardly from the section l3, and the rear end thereof is formed with a downwardly opening hook I8 for securing the flexible rod l4 in,the position thereof shown by the full lines in both Figures 1 and 2. In the interest of economy, the latch plate is preferably formed of sheet metal by a stamping operation and may be of any suitable design. In the present instance, the plate is shown as tapering from the forward end to the hook I8, and is also shown as having portions of the metal blanked out intermediate the ends thereof to form spaced bars l9 adapted to assume a position in a vertical plane when installed upon the vehicle.

It will, of course, be understood that the length of the tubular section [3 is so determined that when the antenna assembly is supported on a vehicle in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, the latch plate I! extends rearwardly over the roof of the body in spaced relation to the latter, and provides for securing the flexible rod l4 in a position wherein the latter extends substantially parallel to the roof in spaced relation thereto. It will be observed from Figure 1 that when the aerial assembly is in the above mentioned position, it actually contributes to the stream-lined appearance of the vehicle and, at the same time, affords better than average radio reception. This is due to the fact that the flexible rod I4 is located a substantial distance from the ignition system of the internal combustion engine and is shielded by the metal top of the body. Another feature which contributes to the radio frequency pick-up of the antenna, in either position of the rod, resides in the fact that the metallic latch plate is so connected to the section l3 as to add to the capacity of the antenna. It will also be observed that with the above construction, the operator may readily take advantage of the maximum effectiveness of the antenna by merely releasing the flexible rod [4 from engagement with the hook l8 of the latch plate. This permits the rod to snap to the-dotted line positions thereof shown in Figures 1 and 2.

One of the features of the present invention consists in the expedient manner in which the antenna assembly may be attached to the vehicle without materially altering, or otherwise interfering with the standard parts of the vehicle. The maximum alteration required in the average installation consists in drilling, or otherwise forming, a relatively small opening 26 through the cowling ll of the vehicle in advance of the windshield. A rubber grommet 2| is extended through the opening 28 in the cowling H, and a stud 22 is inserted through the grommet 2i The upper end of the stud threadedly engages within the lower end of the tubular section l3, and a wing nut 23 is threaded upon the stud beneath the cowling for cooperation with a rest 24 on the lower end of the section l3 to secure the antenna assembly to the cowling. It will be observed from Figure 3 that the rest is in the form of a block having an opening therethrough for receiving the lower end of the section I 3 and having rubber pads 25 secured to the bottom thereof for engagement with the cowling H on opposite sides.

of the stud. In the present instance, the block 24 is pinned, as at 26, to the section I 3 and forms a permanent part of the latter. The extreme lower end of the stud 22 is provided with a clip 21 threadedly mounted on the stud and having a portion 28 connected to the radio receiving apparatus through the medium of a flexible conductor 29.

The upper end portion of the section I3 is readily detachably secured to the adjacent portion of the vehicle body by means of a vacuum cup 30 having a part 3| slidably engaging the section l3 and having a cup-shaped portion 32 adapted to be pressed against the adjacent portion of the body. This latter type of securing is sufficient to stabilize the antenna assembly in installations where the lower end of the latter is secured to the cowling in the manner previously set forth. Although for the purpose of illustration I have shown the antenna assembly as secured to the cowling of the vehicle directly in advance of the division bar 33 separating the two sections of the windshield 34, nevertheless, it will be apparent that the assembly may be secured with equal facility in other positions on the cowling, for example, opposite either of the front corner posts of the body.

The embodiment of the invention illustrate in Figures 7 and 8 is particularly applicable for use in installations where the radio receiving apparatus 35 is supported adjacent the roof of the vehicle body in rear of the front header. Upon reference to Figure 7, it will be noted that the lower end of the tubular section 36 of the antenna assembly extends into a molding 31 clamped against the outer surface of the body header by means of a stud 38. The molding 31 may be formed of vulcanized rubber or bakelite, and the stud 38 is preferably embedded within the molding. It will be observed from Figure 7 that the forward end 39 of the stud extends into the opening in the molding for receiving the lower end of the section 36 and threadedly engages within the latter end of the section to secure the section and molding together. The other end portion 40 of the stud extends rearwardly at right angles to the portion 39 through the body header adjacent the receiving apparatus 35 and cooperates with the nuts to secure the molding to the header. Upon reference to Figure 8, it will be noted that the portion 40 of the stud 38 is insulated from the header by means of the rubber grommet 42, and the nuts 4| are insulated from the'header by means of the rubber washer 43. In the present instance, the section 36 of the antenna is connected to the radio receiving apparatus through the stud 38 by means of a flexible conductor 44 having a clip 45 at the outer end secured on the stud 38 against the washer 43 by the nuts 4|.

As in the first described form of the invention, a highly flexible rod 46 is telescoped within the upper end of the section 36 and may be secured in the full line position thereof shown in Figure 7 by means of a hook 41 connected to the body portion 38 by means of the individual wire rods 48 having the forward ends extending through openings formed in the tubular section 36 and permanently secured to the latter by welding or soldering the same.

It will be observed from the above that the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 possesses all of the advantages of the first described form of the invention, with the additional feature that the lower end of the antenna assembly terminates at the header of the vehicle body and, as a consequence, there is no possibility of the same interfering with vision through the windshield. The elimination of the portion of the antenna assembly extending to the cowling of the vehicle also has the efl'ect of enhancing the general appearance of the vehicle. It will, of course, be understood that the application of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures '7 and 8 is not restricted to installations where the radio receiving apparatus is supported adjacent the roof of the body, since the flexible lead-in wire 44 may be extended downwardly through the corner posts of the body to a radio receiving apparatus supported in the usual position beneath the cowling. However, the present illustration is more desirable in that it offers the possibility of employing a lead-in wire of minimum length and thereby simplifies the inatallation and improves radio reception by reducing one source of interference.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An antenna for installation on motor vehicles, comprising a flexible metallic rod attachable to a part of the vehicle to extend in a general vertical direction and possessing suflicient flexibility to permit bending the rod to the extent required to locate a substantial length of the free end portion of the rod in a general horizontal direction, and means for holding the rod under tension in a position wherein it extends in said general horizontal direction.

2. An antenna for installation on motor vehicles, comprising a flexible metallic rod attachable to a part of the vehicle and adapted to extend 'in a general vertical direction, and a latch fixture supplementing the capacity of the antenna and having a portion engageable with the rod intermediate the ends of the latter to hold the same in a position wherein it extends in a general horizontal direction.

3. An antenna for installation on motor vehicles, comprising a body member attachable to a part of the vehicle, a flexible rod extending from the body member in a general vertical direction, and latching means extending laterally from said body member and having provision for engaging the rod intermediate the ends of the latter to hold the rod under tension in a position wherein it extends in a general horizontal direction.

4. An antenna for installation on motor vehicles, comprising a body member attachable to a part of the vehicle, a flexible rod removably secured to the body member and extending in a general vertical direction from said body member, and latch means extending laterally from the body member and having provision at the free end thereof for detachably engaging the flexible rod intermediate the ends of the latter to hold said rod under tension in a position wherein it extends in a general horizontal direction.

5. An antenna for installation on motor vehicles, comprising a member attachable to a part of the vehicle, a flexible rod having a portion telescopically engaging the member and extending from the latter in a general vertical direction, and a latch fixture extending laterally from the member and having means at the free end thereof adapted to extend over the flexible rod intermediate the ends of said rod to hold the latter in a position wherein the same extends in a general horizontal direction.

6. An antenna for installation on motor vehicles, comprising a member attachable to a part of the vehicle, a flexible rod extending in a general vertical direction and having a portion at the lower end telescopically engaging said member, and a latch plate extending laterally from said member and having a hook at the free end thereof adapted to receive a portion of the rod intermediate the ends of the latter to secure the rod under tension in a position wherein the same extends in a general horizontal direction.

.7. An antenna for installation on motor vehicles, comprising a tubular body member attachable to a part of the vehicle and having an elongated slot in one wall, a flexible rod extending from said member in a general vertical direction in the free position thereof and having a portion at one end telescoped within said member, a latch p ate extending laterally from the member and .having one end extending into the member through said slot, and means at the free end of the latch plate for engaging the rod intermediate the ends of the latter to hold the same in'a position wherein it extends in a general horizontal direction.

8. An antenna for installation on motor vehicles having a top, comprising a flexible rod secured to a part of the vehicle to extend in a general vertical direction above the top of the vehicle and possessing sufllcient flexibility to permit bending the same to a position wherein a substantial length of the free end portion of the rod extends substantially parallel to the top of the vehicle, and means for holding the rod under tension in a position wherein it extends substantially parallel to the top of the vehicle inspaced relation to the latter.

9. An antenna for installation on motor vehicles having a top, comprising a member attachable to, a part of the vehicle, a flexible rod extending from the member above the top of the vehicle in a general vertical direction, and latch means extending laterally from'said member over a portion of the top of the vehicle and having provision for engaging the flexible rod intermediate the ends thereof to hold the same in a position wherein it extends substantially parallel to the top.

10. An antenna for installation on motor vehicles having a top, comprising a body member attachable to a part of the vehicle and having a laterally projecting portion extending in overlapping relation to the top, a flexible rod removably secured to said member and adapted to extend in a general vertical direction in the free position thereof, and means at the free end of the projecting portion for engaging the rod intermediate the ends thereof to hold the same under tension in a position where it extends in a general horizontal direction over the top of the vehicle.

11. An antenna for installation on motor vehicle bodies having a top structure and having a radio receiving apparatus supported therein, comprising a body member secured to the top structure and having a portion extending through the latter into the body, a flexible rod extending upwardly from the body member in a general vertical direction in the free position thereof, latch means extending laterally from the member over a portion of the top and having provision for engaging the rod intermediate the ends of the latter to hold the same under tension in a position wherein it extends in a general horizontal direction over the top structure, and means connecting the .end of the body member extending into the body to the radio receiving apparatus.

12. An antenna for installation on motor vehicle bodies having a top and having a header at the forward end of the top, comprising a member having means at the lower end thereof extending into the body through the header, means cooperating with said means to secure the member to the body, a flexible rod extending from the upper end of the member, and means secured to the member for engagement with the rod to hold the latter under tension in a position wherein it extends in a general horizontal direction above said top.

13. An antenna for installation on motor ve- V hicle bodies having a top and having a header at the forward end of the top, comprising a member having means at the lower end thereof extending into the body through the header, means cooperating with said means to secure the member to the body, a flexible rod removably secured to the upper end of the member and extending in a general vertical direction above the top, and a latch plate extending rearwardly from the member in overlapping relation to the top and having provision at the free end for engaging the flexible rod intermediate the ends of the latter to hold the rod under tension in a position where it extends in a general horizontal direction over the top of the body.

CARL M. TICHENOR. 

